Short chapter here, but it needed to end. So please review!

Chapter Eight

It Takes Two

Lily rushed into the Charms room and gasped as a small dot labeled, 'Lily Evans' appeared. She giggled and ran up to Professor Herald. "Here Professor!" she said.

Professor Herald took the parchment and gasped. "Miss Evans—where did you find this?"

"I made it sir." Lily said, her happy expression died slightly. "It was homework."

Professor Herald stared at her. "It was a joke Lily. A joke!" he studied the map, "But it is excellent work. I have to study it."

"You mean that wasn't the homework?" Lily asked, the blood draining from her face.

"Miss Evans, I won't expect the homework from tonight from you if you managed this properly. Very few people can do this. It's extremely complicated." Professor Herald smiled at her. "I'll give you full marks and extra credit for today and tomorrow if this works!"

Lily stared, "But it wasn't-"

"Miss Evans, sit down." Professor Herald said, smiling. "It will be okay."

James came in and sat next to Lily. "You didn't bloody tell me that wasn't our homework!" she hissed.

"Oh, but it was a wonderful joke since it didn't-"

"Oh but it did!" Lily snapped.

James stared "It worked?" he whispered as the class started. Lily seemed to not be talking to him again.

"What did James do?" Karrie asked as they went into the Great Hall.

"He didn't inform me that our charms homework did not include something that I spent hours on." Lily said. Karrie looked properly shocked.

"But that's mean!"

"What is?" Arabella asked, joining them.

"James told Lily that we had other homework in charms!" Karrie said.

Arabella winced, she knew Lily well enough to know how hard that would be. "Did you tell Professor Herald."

"He was in on the joke to." Lily seethed, sitting as far away from James, Sirius and Peter.

The other two girls looked at their friend curiously. "What happened?" Arabella asked, a grin on her face.

Lily suddenly became very interested in the Cornish pasty she was eating. Sirius bounded over and sat next to Lily. "James sends his dearest apologies to you Lily, and asks how can he make it up to you?"

Lily appeared to be ignoring Sirius to. "So Bell what was the actual charms homework?"

"Lily, I thought you did that for extra credit, not as homework." Sirius said, looking worried.

Arabella looked at Sirius curiously. "What happened Sirius?" she asked.

"Arabella!" Lily cried.

"Lily just- OWWWWW!" He screamed. Lily looked satisfied and continued to eat as Sirius limped back to his friends.

"I should see if Remus is back." Karrie said.

"Yeah, he can be an affective messenger, since Lily won't kill his feet." Arabella said. "You stomped on my toe as well." She said to Lily.

"Playing footsy with Sirius?" Lily asked. Arabella blushed.

"No!"

"Look I stayed up to late last night, I can't deal with this!" Lily said and stormed off to the library.

"She better not take to many new subjects in third year." Arabella said.

"She's had a hard time of it." Karrie said.

Lily couldn't concentrate on the book. It was long and boring, but the anger in her was boiling.

The circle of light, the spell that ends in many things- Lily tried again, but again she was mixing up words.

Lucky it's not Friday. She thought.

She looked up to see Remus. He looked older. His eyes were a strangly yellow, and his hair looked gray almost.

"Remus are you okay?" she asked, the anger fleeing till she needed it. Remus looked at her and smiled.

"Yes, I guess." He said.

"You look-"

"A mess I'm sure. Last night I told James my mother was ill, when in fact it was me. I didn't want visitors." Remus closed his eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lily asked coming closer.

"Lily please don't tell anyone about this?" Remus asked, looking up, pleading.

"Of course not!" Lily cried.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Remus said and headed off. Lily looked at the section he was in. she frowned and picked up the book that Remus had had. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She shrugged and decided to get it out.

"Lily?" James asked. Lily turned away from him, still reading. "Lily are you going to listen to me?" Lily got up and began to walk towards her dormitory. James grabbed her arm.

"Get off." Lily said.

"Not until you-OWWWWW!" James cried as Lily stomped on his foot and went up the stairs to her dormitory.

Mary looked up. "What was that about?"

"Nothing." James lied.

Lily wanted to giggle, but restrained herself until she was in her room where she fell on her bed in giggles. Heather looked at her curiously.

"Lily?" she asked.

"The look on his face." Lily said giggling. Heather looked at her.

"An explanation?" she asked.

"Oh!" Lily sat up and looked at her roommate. "I just stomped on James's foot."

"Holding a grudge long enough Lily?" Arabella asked coming into the room.

"Look, I know it's stupid, but every time I ever do anything James spoils it." Lily said. she fell back the laughter dying down.

"An example?" Arabella asked.

"My eyes are supposedly the same color as Slytherin house's color. Oh terrible I know, but he said it behind my back and it hurt since I can't change them."

"Like you should!" Heather cried.

"I can't do transfiguration right either according to him. and my charms—" tears pooled in her eyes and she turned over. The day had been so emotional.

"Lily?" Arabella asked.

"Sorry, I can't do this." Lily sobbed. "I hate mood swings." She told them coming back up.

"Miss Evans?" Professor Herald asked as she packed up her stuff. "May I see you after class?"

"Now?" Lily asked.

"Well yes." Professor Herald said. Lily waved her friends ahead and came to stand before her professor. "Miss Evans, I just wanted to congratulate you on the map you made for this class. It works no matter who we bring in, no matter the guise we put on. It means fifty points to Gryffindor, and you get extra credit for doing something most seventh years wouldn't even think about doing, let alone getting right."

Lily flushed with pleasure and thanked her teacher before hurrying out to tell her friends. She was cut short by James appearing. She turned around and bumped into Remus. "Oh hello Remus." Lily said, slightly flustered.

"Hullo Lily, may I walk you to the hall?" he asked. Lily groaned inwardly and tried to think of a reason not to.

"Thank you." Lily said, forcing a smile.

Remus talked to her quietly while they made their way up to the Great Hall. Lily sighed as they entered. James, spotting Remus jumped up and waved him over. Lily was obliged to follow.

"Remus my mate!" Sirius cried, thumping Remus on the back. Lily winced, it looked like it hurt. "How's your mum?"

"She's a lot better thank you." Remus said, smiling and sitting down. Lily tried to move away but Remus looked at her and she sat down next to him.

"What are you playing at?" she asked quietly as Arabella and Karrie stared at her.

"Hmm, children should get along, you and James can sit at the same table."

"What if I'm mad at Sirius as well?" Lily asked.

"Well, don't see what Sirius could do to get under Lily's skin." Karrie said sitting down. "How's your mum Re?"

"She's much better thank you." Remus said, smiling at Karrie's nickname for him.

"Well Remus, glad you're back." Arabella said.

Remus nodded and served himself some food. Lily wished he would just say he had been ill.

She sighed and glared at the butter, wishing they had learned the hovering charm. "James pass the butter please." She said icily.

James looked up surprised. "Of course." He said, handing the butter to Remus, who handed it to Lily.

"So Peter," Lily began, but was cut off by Remus getting up and going to sit next to Arabella on the other side of the table. Lily glared at him. there was one seat between her and James now.

She glared at him. He took out his wand and spilled her pumpkin juice. Lily fumed and took his cup and poured it over his head. To shocked to do anything about it, James sat there. Lily left the hall.

"Well, that really worked Remus." Arabella noted.

"I was just trying." Remus said.

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